September 6, 2020 -- John 7:50-51 -- Who Is Your Defense Lawyer?

Nicodemus, who had gone to him [Jesus] before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?"

John 7:50-51 English Standard Version

The Jewish Leadership was indeed prepared to judge a man without first giving him a hearing. At chapter 11 we learn that the most radical part of the Pharisees were prepared to put Jesus to death because He raised Lazarus up from the dead—so they wanted Lazarus killed also!

I was listening to Michael Kruger preach and teach on Hebrews 3. He noted that one of the most important things a person accused of crime must do is to get a good lawyer. In fact, to paraphrase, a man who represents himself at court has a fool for a lawyer. An uninformed defendant will make procedural mistakes, will antagonize the judge and likely unwittingly reveal even greater depths of his own criminality.

Nicodemus, part of a human court, did his part to represent Jesus. Nicodemus would fail. Jesus ultimately would be put to death, though innocent. Jesus was prepared to be the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. However, Jesus took all of God’s wrath and punishment against our sin so that He would be for us the Best, Only, Divine Lawyer of Heaven.

When we as sinners are convicted of our sin, we appeal to Jesus, the Lamb of God Who has taken away our sin and we ask Him to represent us to the Father in heaven. Jesus is our Advocate. He Is our Sure Help. A man would be a fool to represent himself before God—God is the Just Judge and He has provided Jesus as the ONLY representative for sinners. Anyone who refuses Jesus, refuses the help God the Father Himself has given.

Jesus, our Lawyer, Savior and King—blessed are You! Our souls sing in praise and adoration to You. Spirit of God, when our sins and the awareness of our guilt would drive us away from our only source of Help and Counsel, hold on to us tightly and keep us in the powerful Presence of our Sure Defender and Lord. Great and glorious are You, Father in heaven, drawing us ever nearer to Yourself in Christ by the Spirit of Power. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyxXGdG3-Io&list=PLvmfEMFi4D1GIXTScJV9tC-tIMzQ9gKOM